1943 to 1944 - "Attended US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY, Graduated April 21, 1944 and received Third Mate License and USNR Commission as Ensign."

1945 - "Shipped out as Third Mate on Liberty Ship. In fall of 1944 signed on as Third Mate on S/S Chantilly (T-2 Tanker) operating between U.S. and U.K. in North Atlantic. January 1945 joined S/S Bushy Run (T-2) as Third Mate. This ship was employed between Persian Gulf and Mediterranean. Received Second Mate License and was signed on as Second Officer S/S Creighton Victory. Made one voyage from West Coast to Philippines and return, then a second voyage to China and thence to East Coast U.S. via Singapore and Suez Canal."

May 1946 - "Received Chief Mate License (renewed 3rd Issue April 1962). decided to leave the sea and study art at the National Academy of Design, New York City. Realizing that art is a difficult field in which to make a living in 1947 I signed on as Navigator of the Yacht, Southern Sea (120' twin diesel), and took her from Miami to Seattle. I was employed by the U.S. Army Transport Service there in June and sent as Chief Mate to the Columbia River Decommissioning Unit in Cathlamet, Washington."

A note: My grandfather, Captain John H. Irving, told one of his other sons to go to New York City and 'convince' my father, who was happily living the bohemian artist's life, that he must abandon a career in art for one in the military.

My paternal grandfather, Captain John Hamilton Irving, riding Big Ben when he was in the 5th US Cavalry in Fort Clark, Texas 1929. He retired as a Colonel on November 30, 1944. (b. 4-27-1897, d. 10-4-1965)

He was the son of John Beaufain Irving III. His grandfather was the artist, John Beaufain Irving I.

Father's journal excerpt:

"Dad commanded A Troop, 5th Cavalry, and it was here that my mother taught me to ride and to swim. We were transported to school in a mule-drawn ambulance wagon."

Grandfather's journal excerpt Sept.-Oct. 1929:

"Jumped the show horses over the course. They all went well. Sent Big Ben out for an hour and he showed great improvement on his jumping. Inspection of quarters and stable by the General..."

The Irvings of South Carolina were great horse racing people. One of them, John Beaufain Irving II, my great, great grandfather was also an artist. His father John Beaufain Irving I, "Dr. John", owned rice plantations on the Cooper River near Charleston and wrote A Day on the Cooper River and The South Carolina Jockey Club.

Ancestors include the following signees of the Declaration of Independence: